Performing at the Highest Level: Does Stadium Elevation Play a Role in Home Field Advantage in FBS College Football?

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor of Sport Management, Lander University, Greenwood, South Carolina, U.S.A.

2 Assistant Professor of Management, Louisiana State University Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.A.

Abstract

This study investigates what effect stadium elevation has on the win-loss performance of home teams in major college football. Despite extensive research on factors that influence home-field advantage in sports, the potential impact of altitude on the performance of college football teams has not been thoroughly explored. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to compare the records of institutions playing home games at the highest elevation stadiums with national averages. In contrast to its effect on sports like international soccer or running, results indicate that teams playing in stadiums at higher elevations have no significant difference in win-loss percentage than the national average as findings suggest that altitude does not play a significant role in the performance of FBS teams. Unlike soccer teams playing in high-altitude cities or runners training in the mountains prior to racing at lower levels, this study concludes that playing in stadiums located at higher elevations does not significantly impact win-loss percentage of college football teams. This study contributes to the understanding of the factors that influence home-field advantage in college football and the limited impact of altitude on college football.

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References

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Journal of New Studies in Sport Management
Volume 5, Issue 2
May 2024
Pages 1081-1088

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